One of the many fiesta/holy days celebrated here in Nerja, on July 16th there is a procession from the San Salvador church on the Balcon de Europa through the town and then down Castilla Perez to the Torrecilla beach where the image of The Virgen del Carmen is loaded on to a fishing boat at dusk. Many hundreds of people follow the procession and a brass band leads the procession through the town and to the beach.
The boat then proceeds along towards El Playazo beach, then to Burriana beach.
The boats finally comes back to shore on Calahonda beach and there is a big fireworks display and usually live music and dancing on the Balcon.
The celebrations actually start two nights before on the 14th with flowers being offered to the statue of the Virgin in San Salvador church on the Balcon de Europa accompanied by a choir and the Brotherhood of Virgen del Carmen. The following evening on the 15th from 10pm there is a “moraga” (a bit of a party with sardines cooked the traditional way) in the Plaza Fabrica del Cangrejos at the bottom of Castilla Perez with a huge barbecue and bar and free sardines and drinks are served.
